Regular Expressions in Information Security - A Technical Deep-Dive

Dive into a technical deep-dive conference talk that explores the often misunderstood world of regular expressions in information security. Learn why regular expressions are not only essential but also fascinating for infosec professionals. Explore the theoretical foundations of regex, understand their perfect fit for security applications, and discover why common implementations may fall short in meeting infosec needs. Examine desired features for an ideal regex engine in security contexts, and delve into a technical exploration complete with code examples and performance benchmarks. Gain insights into how an optimal regular expression engine for infosec could be implemented. While some mathematical concepts are discussed, the talk is designed to be accessible to all infosec professionals, including those new to the field. Presented by Rob King at BSidesLV, this 42-minute session challenges the notion that regular expressions are boring and demonstrates their crucial role in information security.